Horizon: Zero Dawn (PS4) Review

Hunt Till You Drop.

 Horizon: Zero Dawn is one of the most anticipated games of the year. Originally showcased in 2015 by Killzone developer Guerilla Games, it garnered much praise for its visuals and atmosphere. Horizon: Zero Dawn focuses on a lone hunter on a journey to explore her desolate world and origins while battling dangerous robotic machines in the process. It was considered a "risky" idea by the game's lead director, Mathijs de Jonge, however, after experience what the game has to offer, Horizon was a risk that paid off as it is one of the year's best titles. 


STORY- Set in the distant future, nature has reclaimed much of the Earth and robotic creatures scour much of the land. Humans have been reduced to primitive tribes who hunt for survival while facing the threats of deadly machines. Aloy, a young hunter who was shunned by her tribe and lives as an outcast takes on a journey to explore the wild lands that she has been sheltered from and discover the point of her origin. Along the way, she'll uncover the secrets of the machines and piece-out what occurred to the world centuries prior. Horizon's narrative was engaging as it was filled with many mysteries and twists. Aloy was also a likeable main lead and the comprehensive lore provided additional depth to Horizon's decayed world. Additionally, secondary characters such as Sylens and Helis were also interesting, with both having their own interesting pasts and goals.  

Aloy's quest to uncover her origins

is an interesting one.

GAMEPLAY- Horizon: Zero Dawn is a third-person open-world game with a focus on survival and exploration. Since Aloy is out in the wilds, she must craft equipment and hunt for resources. Aloy's starting weapon is a simple bow and arrow, which can be customized as she gathers the required resources. Additionally, she can use weapons such as a "trip caster" to trap and ambush enemies and a "rattling gun" which rapidly fires arrows similar to a machine gun at the cost of accuracy. When up close, Aloy can use her spear as a melee weapon to perform light and heavy attacks using, R1 and R2, respectively. The spear can be used to silently kill machines when in hiding or override them and use them as a means of transportation. However, the melee system could have benefited from additional depth since it feels simple and shallow at times. Using various herbs and machine components, Aloy can create essential items such as weapon ammo, health potions, and antidotes. Furthermore, by finding rare materials and components, Aloy can enhance her gear by using rare mods.  

Gameplay is solid and engaging

despite some shortcomings. 

 Horizon incorporates some role-playing elements such as leveling up and experience points. Successfully killing enemies, completing quests, and hunting wildlife will net Aloy experience. Once she levels up, her health is extended and she gains a skill point to spend on the skill tree. There are three different types of skills to invest in: combat, healing, and stealth, each offering an added edge in enemy encounters and overall exploration. Aiding in her difficult journey is a special ear-piece called a "Focus". Essentially, the Focus scans for enemies and items and highlights their tracks and stats for Aloy to process. It can also be used to mark enemies' weaknesses and locate hidden collectables as well. It's simple enough yet is an invaluable tool for exploring and navigating through much of the world. Speaking of game world, Horizon is huge and filled with inhabited terrains, villages, and wildlife to explore. Visiting nearby settlements will often include an activity or quest for Aloy to partake in.  

The world is filled with enemies

and secrets to be explored. 

 Scattered through the game's world are hostile machines for Aloy to hunt for resources. Machines vary in shapes and sizes such as the likes of the nimble "Watchers" to the oversized and deadly "Thunderjaw". Machines are not to be underestimated as they are dangerous in many cases. Most machines work in squads and upon being spotted, the rest of the group will be on alert. In some cases, the likes of the Longlegs and Ravagers will scan the area and notify others of Aloy's location. Stalkers are another deadly type as they are immune to being scanned by the focus due to them being cloaked. While the machine AI is something to admire, the same couldn't be said to that of the humans, which often times comes as ignorant and unresponsive. 

Dare to tame the machines of Horizon?

PRESENTATION- Horizon is certainly among the best-looking games on the PS4. Guerrilla Games did a terrific job with building much of the game's detailed environments and character models. Guerilla's in-house engine dubbed "Decima" is an impressive piece of tech. Lighting and shadow effects work in real-time and are stunning to look at. Horizon runs at 30 FPS on both base PS4 and PS4 Pro, sadly there is no feature to increase the game's frame-rate. Fortunately, the performance is consistent and stable enough that it's hard to notice. Voice work is excellent with commendable performances from the likes of Ashley Burch and Crispin Freeman as Aloy and Helis, respectively. The soundtrack is good, complimenting much of the game's atmosphere and tense fights. There were occasional technical issues at times where certain spoken lines wouldn't be played for an unknown reason, thankfully it was minimal throughout the journey.

The production values of Horizon are commendable.

OVERALL- Horizon: Zero Dawn is certainly among best releases of the year, for good reason. It also one of the best titles on the PS4 considering its interesting narrative, solid gameplay mechanics, and stunning production values. The scope of Horizon is impressive and Guerrilla Games should be commended for crafting an immersive experience full of detail and adventure. While it does have some shortcomings, the game remains fun and engaging all-around.